Something To Celebrate: U.S. Teen Birth Rates Drop Dramatically

‘THE MTV EFFECT’?

Something To Celebrate: U.S. Teen Birth Rate Drops Dramatically

By Elizabeth C.

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE U.S. DOMESTIC LANDSCAPE: The Centers For Disease Control reports the number of teenaged pregnancies has been halved in the last 20 years, down to 31 live births per 1,000 teens from 62 births per 1,000.

The most dramatic drop was among Hispanic teens who reported 34 percent overall fewer pregnancies between 2007 and 2011. Among black teenagers, the rate fell 24 percent during the same period; white teens recorded 20 percent fewer pregnancies.

Geographic differences still prevail, though, with Southern states reporting the highest numbers of teen pregnancies. For a detailed breakdown on regional differences, check out “The New Geography Of Teen Mothers” at The Atlantic.
Experts can’t definitively pinpoint the reasons for the declines but they’re happy to speculate.

“Geography, politics, or policy alone simply cannot explain the widespread declines,” Bill Albert of the nonprofit National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, told The Associated Press. “Credit goes to teens themselves who are clearly making better decisions about sex, contraception, and their future.”

He also mused that shows like MTV’s Teen Moms may play a role. “They really do show the challenges of early pregnancy and parenthood,” he said. “The overwhelming majority [of teen watchers] say these shows are sobering, not salacious.”

Whatever the reasons for the decline, the result is 3.6 million fewer births among teens between 1992 and 2011. And deferring childbirth offers those girls more opportunities for education and economic advances.